Though this game has the exact same name and a similar cover as its 64-bit predecessor, it has many variations. Camelot made a normal mode of golfing, similar to that of the Nintendo 64 version, in which the player chooses one of four characters to conquer the challenges of the golf world. However, the developer also included a new, more-involved mode of gameplay.

This new mode of gameplay had traits similar to that of a Role Playing Game. The player was granted the ability to control his or her character more freely. This game mode allowed much character interaction and environmental exploration, making this game have a slightly more detailed story than those in the rest of the series. The player could also Level Up, allowing characters to be more successful at golfing.

Mario Golf for the Game Boy Color has the ability to link with Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64. With the use of the Transfer Pak, the player can transfer data from one version of Mario Golf to the other. By doing so, the player can play as characters specifically in the Nintendo 64 installment on his or her Game Boy Color installment of Mario Golf.

The game also features a multi-player mode but it is not avalable in the 3ds version, allowing separate players to interact in one game. It also features a special free-play mode for players interested in the golfing portion of the game; this gaming mode has no effect on the main quest.

Mario Golf received highly positive reviews. IGN gave Mario Golf a perfect score of 10 out of 10, calling it one of the few must-buy games for the Game Boy Color. They also praised it for extending the standards for audio quality in a Game Boy Color game. GameSpot did not enjoy it as much, giving it a 7.2 of 10. They criticized it, saying that some of the mechanics could have used some work, such as putting. However, they feel it to be an excellent adaptation of the console version. In Japan, Famitsu gave the Game Boy Color version a 30 out of 40.

This game has a television commercial in which Mario appears placing a purple Game Boy Color as a golf ball, ready to shoot it. In the Latin American version of this commercial Mario it's voiced too by Charles Martinet, being the only time that Mario is seen speaking officially in Spanish.[2]